Proteins found in semen increase the spread of Ebola virus infection

Protein fragments, called amyloid fibrils, in human semen significantly increase Ebola virus infection and protect the virus against harsh environmental conditions such as heat and dehydration. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania report these findings in a study published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Although Ebola is […]

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New studies demonstrate infection control strategies for measles and mumps outbreaks

The decline in vaccination rates across communities has led to the resurgence of diseases like measles and mumps, and recent outbreaks have demonstrated the importance of an integrated infection prevention response, according to new research presented at the 45th Annual Conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). In a 2017 measles outbreak, there were 75 […]

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Rheumatoid Arthritis drugs taken during pregnancy may not be linked to large infection risk in child

New research indicates that when pregnant women take certain rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drugs that may cause immunosuppression, their children do not have a marked excess risk of developing serious infections. The Arthritis & Rheumatology findings are potentially encouraging for women with RA who are or wish to become pregnant. In North America, infections are the leading cause of mortality in […]

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Antibody ‘cocktail’ can prevent Zika infection but is not effective for treatment of fetuses

A “cocktail” of monoclonal antibodies that can prevent Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in primates was not effective for treatment of fetuses, according to a new collaborative study led by a University of Miami Miller School of Medicine research team. “We observed that ZIKV isolated from pregnant women in Rio de Janeiro also causes fetal infection in pregnant macaques. Unfortunately, we […]

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New infection prevention tool improve transparency and standardization of practice

Researchers developed a new colour-coded visual tool called Infection Risk Scan, or IRIS, which is set to make it easier for healthcare workers to measure in which areas a hospital complies with guidelines and where it needs to implement measures to improve infection control and the use antimicrobial therapies, according to research presented at the 28th European Congress of Clinical […]

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Research finds new mechanism that can cause the spread of deadly infection

Scientists at the University of Birmingham have discovered a unique mechanism that drives the spread of a deadly infection. Cptococcosirys is a rare and deadly fungal infection that affects the lung and brain and usually only occurs in people with impaired immunity. However, one strain of the fungus – known as the Pacific Northwest strain of Cryptococcus gattii – has […]

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New mathematical parameters to model the impact of Wolbachia infection for disease control

LSTM’s Dr. Gabriela Gomes is senior author on a new study which outlines the importance of using variation in mosquito susceptibility as a parameter in mathematical modelling to realistically assess the impact of Wolbachia infection on disease transmission. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is a disease vector for a number of arboviruses including, chikungunya, dengue and Zika. Wolbachia, a bacterial symbiont, […]

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Metabolic syndrome common with chronic hep B infection

(HealthDay)—Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is prevalent among patients with chronic hepatitis B (HBV) infection, according to a study published online March 29 in Diabetes Care. Mandana Khalili, M.D., from the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues assessed prevalence of MetS and its influence on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and fibrosis among a multiethnic North American cohort with chronic HBV infection […]

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Punjab, India: Mass treatment of a population with chronic hepatitis C infection produces high rates of cure

A large-scale study evaluating the feasibility of decentralized care and the provision of free direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) has reported high rates of cure among a population of almost 20,000 individuals completing treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The study conducted in Punjab, India, which was reported today at The International Liver Congress 2018 in Paris, France, validated the […]

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